•𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄• /𝑳𝒂𝒌𝒔𝒉𝒚𝒂 𝑺𝒆𝒏/

' 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 7 '

Days turned into weeks, and Aarohi and Lakshya's routine remained the same. They barely spoke, and when they did, it was only about necessities.

One day, Lakshya received a package in the mail. He opened it, revealing a new book. Aarohi noticed it and raised an eyebrow.

"Someone sent you a book?" she asked, her tone neutral.

Lakshya nodded. "Yeah. A friend."

Aarohi went back to her own activities, and Lakshya started reading his book. The silence between them continued, unbroken.

As the days went by, the tension between them remained. They were two strangers, trapped together, waiting for their situation to change. But for now, they were stuck in this limbo, forced to coexist in silence.

Aarohi sat at her easel, staring blankly at the canvas in front of her. She was an artist, but being trapped with Lakshya had stifled her creativity. She couldn't seem to paint anything meaningful.

Lakshya walked into the room, his eyes fixed on his book. He didn't even glance at Aarohi, and she felt a pang of irritation.

She began to mix colors on her palette, trying to find inspiration. But everything she created seemed dull and lifeless.

Just as she was about to give up, Lakshya looked up from his book. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice neutral.

Aarohi hesitated, unsure if she wanted to share her art with him. "Just painting," she replied finally.

Lakshya nodded and went back to his book. Aarohi felt a surge of frustration. Why couldn't he show some interest in her art?

She threw down her brush and walked away from the canvas. Maybe she'd never find inspiration again, trapped in this place with this uninterested stranger.

Lakshya closed his book and stood up, stretching his arms. "I have badminton practice," he said, his voice brief.

Aarohi nodded, not looking up from her canvas. "Okay."

Lakshya grabbed his badminton bag and headed out the door. Aarohi watched him go, feeling a mix of relief and annoyance. Why did he have to be so distant?

As soon as Lakshya left, Aarohi's creativity sparked back to life. She began to paint with renewed energy, the colors flowing onto the canvas.

Meanwhile, Lakshya arrived at the badminton court, his mind focused on the game. He played with intensity, his racket smashing the shuttlecock with precision.

But despite his focus, his mind kept wandering back to Aarohi. He couldn't understand why she was so closed off, why she didn't seem to care about him at all.

After practice, Lakshya returned home, exhausted but still thinking about Aarohi. He found her asleep on the couch, her paint-stained fingers curled around a brush.

He stood there for a moment, watching her sleep. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to her than he thought.

Lakshya quietly placed his badminton bag on the floor and sat down beside Aarohi. He gazed at her peaceful face, noticing the faint smudge of paint on her cheek.

As he looked at her, he felt a pang of curiosity. What was she like when she wasn't trapped in this situation with him? Did she laugh, smile, and love with abandon?

Aarohi stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She saw Lakshya sitting beside her and immediately tensed. "What are you doing?" she asked gruffly.

Lakshya held up his hands in a peaceful gesture. "Just got back from practice. Didn't mean to disturb you."